Bruins Win Two - Retain Final Playoff Spot

At this point in the season, it's a cliche to say that every win is a big one. But for the Bruins, last night's win over Atlanta, and Sunday afternoon's win over the Rangers, have huge implications for the Bruins' playoff chances.

Not only were the B's able to claim 4 very valuable points (keeping them solidly in 8th, and only one point out of 6th place), they were also able to beat the two teams immediately behind them in the standings.

What alarms me a little is that the scoring is coming from guys like Begin and Satan, instead of Wheeler and Krejci (in Krejci's defense, he's played far better lately). However, given the lack of scoring punch due to the absence of Savard (and Ka$h-Grab Kessel), I guess the B's should take scoring from wherever they can get it. Hell, if Thomas thinks he can pot a couple, put him in the lineup.

The Bruins' next game is against the Lightning on Thursday night. The Lightning obviously have nothing to play for - not even pride - but are still capable of putting pucks in the net. The Bruins need to keep the pressure on every team they play if they expect to make this year's "second season" (which starts in less than a month!).

Bruins Response to Penguins - Total Indifference

Tonight's game was obviously the Bruins' first against the Penguins since Matt Cooke ended Marc Savard's season.

Sadly, the Bruins' response was lacklustre.

Though the liberal media would have you focus on Cooke and Thornton fighting in the first period, or Chara and Rupp in the third, the real storyline is around the Bruins' lack of desperation when points are so valuable in the playoff hunt.

With the Bruins barely hanging on to 8th place in the East, and the Rangers and Thrashers within striking distance, I was hoping the Bruins would be more motivated. But they were out-chanced and out-hustled throughout the game, especially in the second period.

This Bruins team is at its best when it plays a heavy-forecheck, defensive-press type of game - always hurrying the puck carrier and finishing checks. They haven't played that way with any consistency and consequently they haven't been winning.

That sound you hear is the playoffs, slipping away.

"Terrible night for the Boston Bruins, quite frankly." Bob McKenzie for TSN.

The B's next game is Sunday afternoon against the Rangers, which is surely another game that the team should be motivated for. Let's see what level of competition they can offer, now that they don't have to avenge a fallen teammate.

I seriously hope there are a few 'players-only' and 'closed-door' meetings between now and then, because something has to give or the season is effectively over.

Things I Am Tired Of

Here are some things I am tired of:

• The Harper Government.
• Guys in delivery trucks rounding corners into streams of pedestrians while talking on cell phones and eating what looks like salad.
  
• The Bruins losing every game.

Here are some things I am not tired of:

• Our cats, Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell.
• Tuukka Rask.
• Patrice Bergeron.

The Bruins play tonight against the Hurricanes, and currently have a 1-point lead over the Rangers for 8th place in the Eastern Conference.

Bruins Post-Olympics

It was a weird Olympics for the Bruins:

• Bergeron was under-used and then injured for Canada
• Krejci looking great for the Czechs
• Chara looked good, Satan okay, on an inconsistent Slovak club
• Sturm led the plucky charge of the Germans, and finally
• Thomas didn't have a single game for the USA

Now that the B's have played two games, it is fair to say they are not playing very well, post-Olympics. The 4-1 loss to the Canadiens was a fate they deserved after ringing shots off of posts and then surrendering 4 straight goals. Last night's win over the Maple Leafs was pretty disorganized and the Bruins looked like they lacked depth in the line up.

The play of Matt Hunwick has really slid on the games bookending the Olympic break. He got burned twice by the Habs because he was just standing there as the play developed around him, and last night he gave the puck away all night - most notably in the final minutes of the game, straight up the slot, only to be bailed out by Thomas. I know he's young, but he's making far too many mistakes to warrant the ice time he gets.

Thomas has been a bright spot though. He was sharp against the Leafs and played as well as he did last year. It was the first time Thomas has looked like himself in months. Let's hope it continues - you always want your number 1 guy to play at his best, no matter how good the backup is.

It will be interesting to see how these guys respond during the season's final stretch. Every game is a must-win, or they risk missing the playoffs, which start in 20 games.